Oregon drone mission: Keeping spuds happy

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HERMISTON, Ore. (AP) - Experiments have begun in Oregon aimed at using the unmanned aircraft known as drones to keep potatoes happy.

The Federal Aviation Administration recently authorized the use of drones to fly over Oregon State University potato fields in search of unhealthy plants, such as those have don't have enough water or fertilizer.

Two drones leased from Boeing Co. are outfitted with small infrared cameras that can detect unhealthy plants sooner than growers might otherwise, said Phil Hamm, director of the Oregon State extension center at Hermiston. Healthy plants reflect the light more strongly, he said.

"When plants aren't happy, they look different, but not necessarily different to our eyes," he said. "We want to recognize plants that aren't happy before there's a reduction in yield."